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6 Mar 2026
Starting – or even continuing – a PhD is a daunting task. While on the surface of it having 3 to 4 years to produce a thesis can sound like a luxury...
Starting – or even continuing – a PhD is a daunting task. While on the surface of it having 3 to 4 years to produce a thesis can sound like a luxury (especially compared to the tight deadlines of undergraduate and masters), in reality there are two sides to that coin. On the one hand, yes, a PhD is a relatively uninterrupted chance for you to do your own research; but, at the same time, it is that same lack of structure which can make completing a PhD a difficult and stressful process. There are many horror stories about people writing up just before their submission date or leaving research collection to the last minute. And that’s before we’ve started talking about all those extra-PhD activities you should be doing: getting published, going to conferences, applying for jobs.
To help make the process more straightforward and to put your mind at rest, here are some pointers to help you make the most out of your PhD:
1. Visualise your timeline
It may sound obvious but very few students properly consider how they will fill up the 3 to 4 years of their PhD. Ironically, when applying to a program, this is often a key consideration in formulating a research proposal (in some disciplines, it is even common practice for research proposals to have a preliminary timetable of the whole PhD). But when candidates start their program, they quite naturally feel like 3 to 4 years is a long time. However, the length of the final thesis and the amount of research that is expected to go into it is supposed to use up that time! So, the key thing is to set yourself a timeline and try to stick to it. When will you finish each chapter? Do you need to write up your chapters all at the end? If so, how are you going to schedule your fieldwork to give you time at the end to be able to properly explain your data? As you can tell, each question will vary depending on the research demands of your discipline but the core principle of coming up with timelines and trying to stick with them is key. If you’d like to find out how to manage your time more effectively, take a look at our article on that topic. And don’t worry if you miss some of those self-imposed deadlines; it’s natural to be a bit over-ambitious in what you think you can do in a given time, but it’s better that way around than not having any plan at all!
2. A PhD is not just the thesis
It’s true that for virtually every doctoral program, all you need to graduate is a completed thesis. But another reason why a PhD is so long is to account for all the other things that you should be doing while you’re a doctoral candidate. As with almost any other job, the responsibilities which you are contracted to do are often not all you should be doing, especially if you are early in your career and want to get ahead. Academia (and even the job market beyond it) is fiercely competitive and you will want to show that you are a well-rounded and committed researcher. That involves taking advantage of conferences, getting published, and taking up any side research projects or teaching opportunities which come your way. You do not have to say yes to everything (it is easy to burn out during the course of a PhD), but you want to make sure you can show on your C.V. at the end of the PhD the potential you have to be a well-rounded team player, as well as a researcher with a wide range of interests (whether you stay in academia or not). Once again, as I mention in the first tip, try to add these to your timeline so that you don’t get overwhelmed by them.
3. Network, network, network
Networking can sound like something which is just for those who want to go into investment banking, corporate law, or management consultancy. And while academic networking often doesn’t involve sipping champagne and eating canapes in swish City of London offices, academic research is built around communities of researchers who are engaged in similar areas of research. They may be called “labs” or “research groups”, or even just other scholars who work on similar areas as you or within the same discipline. Events such as conferences and research seminars are great ways to get to know other academics, as well as fellow (post-)doctoral researchers. And when it comes to academia, the best networking not only helps your career but can often lead to meaningful collaborations and friendships.